Michael Fitzmaurice: Calls for Fund for Live Export Tests

Minister, Tested Minister, are you putting a fund in place to help offset the costs in relation to live exports with the new, basically, requirements from different countries in the line of PCR tests and vaccines required, and if you would make a statement on the matter. Thank you, Comhairleach, and I thank W. Fitzmaurice for raising the important issue of live exports. So first of all, whether it's live exports or whether it's ag food, my role and the job of my department is to make sure market access for this produce that is Irish farmer's produce, and that the most amount of access to our markets that we can provide, and the most opportunities and outlets that we can provide to give the best possible return for those who export it, the companies who handle that, but obviously that will drive a return back for the farmers who have produced that agricultural produce in the first place. At present I don't have any plans to introduce a fund or specific financial support scheme to cover or contribute to the cost of vaccines or laboratory tests associated with live exports. These costs are considered part of the commercial and regulatory obligations associated with participation in certain export markets. While there are some export markets which require vaccination or pre-export testing, there are other markets where this is not a requirement. My department will, however, continue to engage with industry stakeholders and monitor developments in export requirements to ensure that Ireland remains competitive while maintaining the highest standards of animal health and welfare. Specifically in relation to Blue Tongue, conditions of derogations applied by other Member States are set by the competent authority in those Member States, not by my department. However, the vast majority of our exports of cattle are to EU markets where no vaccination or pre-export testing is required. I recently coordinated closely with my Northern Ireland counterpart, as you're aware, to ensure that cross-border trade has been able to resume with no additional requirements, and that has been very important. Since confirmation of Blue Tongue virus in Ireland in January, my department has also engaged successfully with a number of third country markets, for example with Algeria and Tunisia, to amend veterinary health certificate requirements to allow trade to resume. So that's the role for me and my department, is to make sure where there are blockages that we engage my officials, engagement officials in the relevant Member State or other third country. We look to agree a set of conditions, but those conditions are set down by the receiving country. We don't set them, we negotiate with them and try and make sure we have the access. I'm not debating whatsoever, Minister, and I thank your department for getting the health certs done in each country. I'm not debating about what other countries do, and I agree with you, other countries have set it down. The only thing, the facts are that other countries in Europe have basically brought in a fund to help out in the situation of export. You are aware that in some of them countries, first of all, they have to do quarantine, second of all, they have to do their PCR and vaccines with some of them. And a vaccine, no matter how you go, is 15 euro. You know, as well as I know, that we need a live export trade. And in fairness to the live exporters, they go out and they source the market. It's not Port Baileys doing it for them, they do the markets themselves. They don't have the same representation as the likes of the meat factories would have out abroad. You have seen over the last number of weeks, and especially since Christmas, the way the factories are basically, have a look at the charts in the league of meat prices throughout Europe. We're at the bottom now, where the factories are basically taking advantage, and we do need live exports. I know that you're in favour of them. But what I am saying is, if the cost extra, no one saw this coming, and what you cannot do. Yes, exporters have to pay for boats and pay for everything else. But these are new costs put on top of them, and I'm asking, would you consider looking at a fund? Yes, and look, while I accept that, and I accept it's a difficult space for exporters at the minute, they're meeting a lot of competition for farmers in the marts for those cattle too, because of a shortage of cattle and a big demand for farmers for them. And that makes it a challenging space. I think we'd be having a much different conversation here if I'd failed to be able to reopen trade with Northern Ireland, if we'd failed to gain access for the likes of Algeria and Tunisia that I mentioned. So I understand the conditions are challenging for exporters, and there's that increased cost where certain countries have set criteria down. But no more than with food or drink requirements and certificates, and we export to 180 countries around the world for our dairy produce, our beef produce, Irish whiskey and beyond, the receiving country sets those requirements as they're entitled to do. We have to work with them and negotiate around them. I presume most of the points you're raising are in relation to Blue Tongue, and we have had a number of renegotiated health certificates, and we've been doing that for the last two years now, mindful that there was a likelihood Blue Tongue would come here at some stage. I understand fully what you're saying. The certificates are done by other countries. But in fairness to anybody that's exporting, four months ago, when you'd be exporting, there was no quarantine. When you quarantine cattle, you have to... Trade is trade, whether it's a farmer that's going for it or an exporter. Good luck, that keeps the price up. That's the good part of that. But when you're trying to export on what I would call an unforeseen... Say, four months ago, this wasn't... You didn't need this. And this is a new regulation. And yes, you're right, it's other countries that want it. I'm not disagreeing whatsoever. But the one thing I am saying is, with the amount... Some of them, the amount of cattle that's been exported, if they have to be PCR'd, if they have everything done with them in the line of vaccinated, it's going to cost a lot of money. And if there was all that much money out of it, then they'd all be multimillionaires in exporting. But the facts are, there isn't. And this is another layer that you have to try and knock out of, basically, the guy that's buying it in some other country, or take the heat. And what I am saying is, would the department sit down with them and try and work out a cohesive plan? Minister? So, as I say, look, there's ongoing engagement between exporters and officials in my department. And particularly in my veterinary health section as well. And that was recognised in terms of the revised health certificates for Tunisia, which was secured on the 18th of February. Algeria, which we saw approximately 3,500 cattle exported to Algeria, in 2025, and 2,000 in 2024. And that's all really important, because you're dead right. Live exports are an important part of Ireland's livestock industry. I understand they play a role in terms of the price, in other ways as well, in stimulating price competition and providing an alternative market outlet for farmers. That's why my department facilitates this trade, and we continue to do so. But there's all types of trade that we continue to engage on as well. So, on the 12th of February, we managed to secure a revised veterinary health certificate for hides and skins to China, which is the most significant market for this commodity to Irish exporters. That was really important as well. And also on the 18th of February, secured an interim trade certificate between the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in Ireland, which allowed dairy exports to Canada to resume. So, you know, every child is equally favoured, from exporters to all the other bits. And we continue to work with them and engage with them. I'm mindful of the pressures that there are under there and the important role they play.